Cartridge hoisting device for an automatic gun



March 1966 c. M. CHRISTIANSSON 3,

CARTRIDGE HOISTING DEVICE FOR AN AUTOMATIC GUN Filed NOV. 30, 1964 INVENTOR.

CARL MAU/F/ZZ Cfl/P/ST/AA/SSON A 1- TOMVFYS United States Patent 3,238,845 CARTRIDGE HOISTING DEVICE FOR AN AUTOMATIC GUN Carl Mauritz Christiansson, Bofors, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Bofors, Bofors, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,658 Claims priority, application Sweden, Nov. 29, 1963, 13,242/ 63 3 Claims. (Cl. 89-46) The invention described herein relates to a hoisting apparatus for conveying cartridges of ammunition from a cartridge magazine of an automatic gun to a cartridgeguide of the gun for feeding forward the cartridges by means of a rammer to the cartridge-chamber of the gun barrel.

One object of the present invention is to provide a hoisting apparatus for an automatic gun comprising a cartridge magazine having a comparatively substantial dimension in the vertical direction due to the fact that it is constructed to contain a considerable number of cartridges arranged in the magazine in parallel vertical rows, and having an outlet port located at the bottom thereof through which cartridges are fed forth one by one to be conveyed to the cartridge-guide. In order that a magazine of this kind shall not extend a substantial distance vertically beyond other components of the gun, it is desirable that the outlet port, or ports as the case may be, of the magazine shall be located at a level below the cartridge-guide along which the cartridges are brought forward to the cartridge-chamber of the barrel.

With such arrangement of the magazine in relation to the gun barrel and the cartridge-guide, difliculty has been experienced in obtaining sufficient space for an apparatus for conveying cartridges to the cartridge-guide from an outlet port for cartridges located at the magazine bottom, in particular if the magazine comprises two partitions located on either side of a narrow vertical shaft for conveying the cartridges from the magazine bottom to the cartridge-guide.

One object of the present invention is to provide an effective hoisting apparatus by which the projectiles can be rapidly conveyed from an outlet port of a cartridge magazine arranged as described and to a cartridge-guide located rearwardly of the gun barrel co-axial therewith and above said outlet port, this hoisting apparatus comprising a support means for the cartridges eifecting a substantially translatory motion from the cartridge outlet port of the magazine to the cartridge-guide, and which does not in any direction occupy a space substantially larger than necessary with respect to the dimensions 'of the cartridge and the distance between the cartridge outlet port and the cartridge-guide.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hoisting apparatus in which the cartridges during hoisting are exposed to a selected motion also in the longitudinal direction thereof, so that the cartridge outlet port can be located somewhat forwardly or rearwardly of the cartridge-guide at a vertical distance below it.

With this object in view the invention relates to a cartridge hoisting apparatus for a gun having a cartridge magazine arranged as described above, said hoisting apparatus comprising a cartridge support means pivotally attached to an end of one arm of a two-armed lever by means of a pivotal joint, By means of an intermediate joint the two-armed lever is pivotally connected to one end of a first lever beam, the other end of which is pivotally attached to a base surface located at a somewhat lower level than the outlet port of the magazine. The end of the second arm of the two-armed lever is pivotally attached to one end of a second lever beam, the other end 3,238,845 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 "ice of which is pivotally attached to the base surface by means of a pivotal joint located a distance from the pivotal joint between the first lever beam and the base surface, the distance between the pivotal joints of this second lever beam being less than the distance between the pivotal joints of said first lever beam. The said second arm of the two-armed lever thus constitutes a connecting rod between the end of said first and said second lever beam. All the pivotal joints of the two-armed lever and the two lever beams articulate about axes perpendicular to the same vertical plane.

The apparatus further comprises a driving means actuating one of the lever beams for articulating the pivotal lever beams about the pivots connecting them to the base surface, the two-armed lever thus also oscillating in a vertical plane while being moved upwards or downwards.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the cartridge support means comprises a guide means applying to the support means, during its motion between the cartridge outlet port of the magazine and the cartridge-guide, an articulation relative to the two-armed lever in order to hold the support means in a desired orientation in relation to the base surface and, particularly, in relation to the magazine outlet port and in relation to the cartridgeguide at the lowermost and uppermost positions, respectively, of the hoist. Thus, if the direction of the cartridge as emerging from the outlet port of the magazine and in the cartridge-guide is to be essentially the same, the cartridge support means is to be moved in a substantially translatory movement from the outlet port to the cartridge-guide.

Said guide means for guiding the cartridge support means during its movement upwards and downwards may comprise guide grooves arranged in side walls of a hoist shaft through which the cartridges are hoisted and guide means of the support means co-operative with said guide grooves. However, and in particular for such dimensioning of the pivotal lever beams and the two-armed lever with which a displacement in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge is as well obtained during hoisting, said guide means preferably constitute part of the cartridge hoist as such. For this purpose, and in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cartridge support means is pivotally connected by means of a further pivotal joint to one end of a connecting link, the other end of which is pivotally connected to one of said first and second lever beams. By suitably selecting the dimensioning of the length of the two-armed lever arm pivotally attached to the support means, the length of the connecting link and the distance between the two mentioned pivotal joints of the support means, an arrangement is readily obtained by means of which the support means is "held in desired positions on its way from the cartridge outlet port of the magazine to the cartridge-guide, the support means moving either in a substantially translatory motion or exposed to an articulation selected with respect to the desired direction thereof at the outlet port and at the cartridge-guide, respectively. Further, the dimensions may readily be so selected that, during such motion, the support means will move rearwardly-upwardly from the cartridge outlet port to the cartridge-guide describing a curved path determined by the geometry of the pivotal lever beams and the two-armed lever.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fractional side view schematically illustrating components of an automatic gun having a cartridge guide for conveying cartridges to the cartridgechamber of the gun barrel and a cartridge magazine comprising two compartments located on either side of a longitudinal vertical plane through the gun barrel, a cartridge hoist according to the invention being arranged between vertical walls of the magazine compartments,

FIG. 2 shows, more in detail, the same hoisting apparatus in its uppermost position for depositing a cartridge guide of the gun, and

FIG. 3 shows the same hoisting apparatus in its lowermost position with the cartridge support means thereof in position for receiving a cartridge from the outlet port of a magazine compartment.

FIG. 1 shows part of a gun barrel 1 and a cartridge guide 2 arranged in alignment with the cartridge-chamber and the breech ring of the gun barrel, as well as a cartridge rammer mechanism 3 by means of which a cartridge is to be introduced into the cartridge-chamber by being pushed forward along the cartridge-guide. Located on either side of the cartridge-guide, two compartments 4a and 4b of a cartridge magazine extend a substantial distance downwardly of the cartridge-guide, the compartments having outlet ports arranged adjacent the bottoms thereof. A port 5 of compartment 4b is indicated in FIG. 1. The magazine compartments 4a and 4b each comprise means for feeding forward cartridges 6 through outlet ports to a cartridge hoist, as a unit designated 8 in FIG. 1 and mounted on a base plate 7. In the lowermost position of the hoist, a cartridge support means thereof is located in a position ready to receive a cartridge emerging through a port 5 in a wall 9 of the hoist shaft. FIG. 1 further illustrates, in dashed lines designated 8, the hoist in its uppermost position in which the support means thereof occupies a position for delivering a cartridge to the cartridgeguide.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the cartridge hoist more in detail. The support means 10 comprises a support bar 11 having at its ends abutment means 12 and 13 for holding a cartridge 14 in proper position while the cartridge is being lifted through the shaft. By means of a pivotal joint 15 the support means 10 is fastened to one arm 16 of a two-armed lever 16, 17 which in its turn is pivotally fastened by means of an intermediate joint 18 to one end 19 of a first lever beam 22, the other end 20 of which is pivotally secured by means of a joint 21 to base plate 7. The second arm 17 of lever 16, 17 is pivotally attached by means of a joint 23 to one end of a second lever beam 25, the other end 26 of which is pivotally secured to the base plate 7 by means of a joint 27. The distance between the joints of lever beams 22 and 25, the length of arm 17 of the two-armed lever, and the distance between joints 21 and 27 are so selected that the lever beams and 22 when articulated downwardly towards the base plate 7 will be located adjacent each other, extending a comparatively small distance above the base plate 7. The location of the pivotal joints 18 and 23 of the two-armed lever 16, 17 and the angle between the lever arms are so selected that arm 16 of the lever extends essentially parallel to the lever beams 22 and 25, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Further, the hoisting apparatus comprises a driving means for articulating the pivotal levers, which together constitute a distinct linkage, between the position illustrated in FIGS. Y2 and 3. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings this driving means comprises an hydraulic motor 30 having a cylinder 31 and a piston connecting rod 32, the cylinder being fastened to the base plate 7 by means of a pivotal joint 33 and the connecting rod being pivotally attached to lever beam 25 by means of a pivotal joint 34 located at a distance from pivotal joint 27 of the lever beam. The articulating motion downwards of the linkage is restricted by an abutment member 28 on the lever beam 25 abutting against the base plate 7.

In order to provide a desired position of the support means 10 during the motion thereof between the end positions of the hoist, the hoisting apparatus comprises a guide means in form of a connecting link 40, one end of which is attached to the cartridge support means 10 by means of a pivotal joint 41 which is located at a distance from joint 15 connecting arm 16 of the two-armed lever 16, 17, and the other end of which is attached to beam 22 by means of a joint 42 located at a distance from the intermediate joint 18 of the two-armed lever 16, 17. Arm 16 of the two-armed lever, connecting link 40 and the portions of supporting means 10 and lever beam 22 located between arm 16 and connecting link 40 thus together constitute a further linkage which for each position of the pivotal lever beams 22 and 25 define the position of the support means 10.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding thereof, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hoisting device for conveying cartridges of ammunition from a cartridge magazine of an automatic gun to a loading position in alignment with the barrel of the gun, and including a cartridge support means adapted to move between a position in which a cartridge emerging from an exit of the cartridge magazine is deposited thereon and said loading position, in which said cartridge support means is pivotally attached to the end of one arm of a two-armed lever by means of a pivotal joint, this two-armed lever being by means of an intermediate pivotal joint thereof pivotally attached to one end of a first lever beam, the other end of which is pivotally attached to a base support member rigidly connected to the cartridge magazine and located below an exit for cartridges from the magazine, the end of the second arm of said two-armed lever being attached to one end of a second lever beam, the other end of which is pivotally attached to the base support member by means of a pivotal joint located at a distance from the pivotal joint interconnecting said first lever beam and the base sup port member, the distance between the pivotal joints of this second lever beam being less than the distance between the pivotal joints of said first lever beam, all said pivotal joints articulating about axes perpendicular to the same vertical plane, the device further comprising a driving means adapted to actuate one of said first and second lever beams for articulating said pivotal lever beams and said two-armed lever in a vertical plane perpendicular to the axes of all said pivotal joints.

2. A hoisting device, according to claim 1, further comprising a guide means adapted to apply to the cartridge support means during its motion between said exit of the cartridge magazine and said loading position a selected articulation relative to said two-armed lever about the pivotal joint interconnecting the cartridge support means and said two-armed lever.

3. A hoisting device, according to claim 2, wherein the cartridge support means comprises a further pivotal joint located a distance from the pivotal joint interconnecting it with said two-armed lever and pivotally attaching it to one end of a connecting link, the other end of which is pivotally attached to one of said first and second lever beams by means of a pivotal joint located a distance from the pivotal joint interconnecting said lever beam and the two-armed lever.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

FRED C. MATTERN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HOISTING DEVICE FOR CONVEYING CARTRIDIGES OF AMMUNITION FROM A CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE OF AN AUTOMATIC GUN TO A LOADING POSITION IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BARREL OF THE GUN, AND INCLUDING A CARTRIDGE SUPPORT MEANS ADAPTED TO MOVE BETWEEN A POSITION IN WHICH A CARTRIDGE EMERGING FROM AN EXIT OF THE CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE IS DEPOSITED THEREON AND SAID LOADING POSITION, IN WHICH SAID CARTRIDGE SUPPORT MEANS IS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO THE END OF ONE ARM OF A TWO- ARMED LEVER BY MEANS OF A PIVOTAL JOINT, THIS TWO-ARMED LEVER BEING BY MEANS OF AN INTERMEDIATE PIVOTAL JOINT THEREOF PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO ONE END OF A FIRST LEVER BEAM, THE OTHER END OF WHICH IS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO A BASE SUPPORT MEMBER RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO THE CARTRIDGE MAGAZINE AND LOCATED BELOWE AN EXIT FOR CARTRIDGES FROM THE MAGAZINE, THE END OF THE SECOND ARM OF SAID TWO-ARMED LEVER BEING ATTACHED TO ONE END OF A SECOND LEVER BEAM, THE OTHER END OF WHICH IS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO THE BASE SUPPORT MEMBER BY MEANS OF A PIVOTAL JOINT LOCATED AT A DISTANCE FROM THE PIVOTAL JOINT INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST LEVER BEAM AT THE BASE SUPPORT MEMBER, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PIVOTAL JOINTS OF THIS SECOND LEVER BEAM BEING LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PIVOTAL JOINTS OF SAID FIRST LEVER BEAM, ALL SAID PIVOTAL JOINTS ARTICULATING ABOUT AXES PREPENDICULAR TO THE SAME VERTICAL PLANE, THE DEVICE FURTHER COMPRISING A DRIVING MEANS ADAPTED TO ACTUATE ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND LEVER BEAMS FOR ARTICULATING SAID PIVOTAL LEVER BEAMS AND SAID TOW-ARMED LEVER IN A VERTICAL PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXES OF ALL SAID PIVOTAL JOINTS. 